THE BEARDED EAGLE. 6i 



Eagle's nest Mr. Bruce's description of the bearded eagle. 



constructed with sticks and branches of trees, 

 and as wide as the body of a cart. They found 

 in this nest three young birds; already so large, 

 that their wings extended seven ells. Their legs 

 were as thick as those of a lion: and their nails, 

 the size of a man's fingers. In the nest were 

 found several skins of calves and sheep. 



From one of the two varieties of this bird tbat 

 are sometimes seen in Persia and other Oriental 

 countries, it is probable that the fabulous stories 

 of the roc of the Arabian Tales originated. It 

 has-indeed been generally supposed that the con- 

 dor was alluded to in those fictions: but this 

 seems improbable, since that bird is confined to 

 the wild districts of South America, and has 

 never been ascertained to have visited the old 

 continent. 



Mr. Bruce describes himself as having seen a 

 variety of the bearded eagle on the highest part 

 of the mountain of Lamalmon, near Gondar, the 

 capital of Abyssinia : where the inhabitants on 

 account of the tuft growing beneath its beak, 

 called it Abou Duch'n, or Father Long-beard. 

 He supposed it one of the largest birds in the 

 creation. From wing to wing it measured eight 

 feet four inches ; and from the tip of its tail to 

 the point of its beak, when dead, four feet seven 

 inches. It weighed twenty-two pounds, and was 

 \ery, full of flesh. Its legs were short, but the 

 thighs extremely muscular. Its eyes were remark- 



